Photo @hiroyanakata_ski
Driven by a desire to fully engage with the mountains within their limited time as female skiers, and to improve their experience and skills, three women—Ai Sato, Tomomi Oike, and Noriko Fukushima—formed the "Mountain Girls Club." This year marks their 10th anniversary, and as their lives have changed with marriage, childbirth, and raising children, how have they continued to engage with skiing? This article reflects on their lifestyle, which involves immersing themselves in nature while managing their shared occupation of working as innkeepers, and the past 10 years.
Event Overview
Women's SKI LIFE@Mountain Women's Club
Date and time
Kanda Store: Friday, November 24, 2023, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM
It is also scheduled to be held at the Hakuba Store (Saturday, December 16, 2023)
Participation fee and reservation method
Participation fee: Free
How to make a reservation: Call Kanda Store directly to make a reservation
TEL 03-3518-0571
Event speakers
Ai Sato
Born as the eldest daughter of the owners of Kiyotsu Lakeside Lodge, a skiers' lodge in Mitsumata, Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture , she dedicated herself to alpine skiing from a young age, surrounded by the mountain men who gathered at the lodge. After gaining work experience in the Kanto region, she became the owner of her family's lodge, Lakeside Lodge, 15 years ago. She inherited the lodge's philosophy of "playing and sharing fun with guests," providing a welcoming and relaxing place where everyone can easily visit and smiles abound. Alongside this, she skis on snowy mountains both domestically and internationally as a sponsored rider for brands such as Haglöfs, HEAD, and GIRO, and is active in advertising and media. Instagram: @aisato75
Tomomi Oike
Born in Otari Village, Nagano Prefecture. Her family runs Lodge Chamingo, located within the Hakuba Norikura ski resort . Growing up in an environment where the ski resort was right outside the front door, she started skiing from a young age and competed in alpine and park skiing competitions. In her late twenties, she began to discover the allure of backcountry skiing. She competed in the Hokkaido Kiroro Powder Ride Championship and achieved three consecutive victories. After going to the United States to hone her skiing skills, she began skiing on mountains overseas, experiencing Alaska, Argentina, and the glacial mountains of Canada. Six years ago, she took over her family's lodge, managing it with her husband, Takuma Oike, who is also a skier. At the same time, she is actively involved in promoting freestyle skiing, and is a core member of the JAPAN FREE RIDE OPEN and Chanmero Freeride. In 2022, she gave birth and became a mother of one. She is currently exploring ways to create an environment where she can ski while raising her child. Instagram: @buuton814
Noriko Fukushima
Born and raised in Hakuba Village, she began skiing at the age of three. She competed in domestic and international races as an alpine skier. In 2004, she switched to ski cross and simultaneously began backcountry skiing. In 2007, she became the first Japanese female skier to receive an invitation to the Winter X Games. In 2008, she placed 4th in the Winter X Games and 5th overall in the FIS Freestyle World Cup, and that same year became the first Japanese female skier to participate in Alaska Shooting. She competed in the Vancouver Olympics in 2010. She married in 2011 and, in 2013, established Mauka Outdoor, based in Hakuba, with her husband, an outdoor guide. During the green season, they mainly offer SUP (stand-up paddleboarding), and during the winter season, they operate ski and snowboard lessons and guided tours. Simultaneously, she is involved in the operation of the family business, Lodge Yamajiu, making her the double proprietress of Mauka Outdoor and Yamajiu. A mother of three who loves skiing.
Instagram:@norikofukushima
Information
Patagonia
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